BNZ LTER - Information Management
BNZ IM System Design
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Summary: The Bonanza Creek (BNZ) site stores their metadata in a database using mySQL Structured Query Language database. The database is the center piece of the BNZ site metadata management system, and the transactions with the public and the users are coded in Cold Fusion. The scripts allow users to query, view and download metadata and data.
Detail: A custom mySQL relational database stores all related info to datasets. This database tracks changes in data and metadata and allows data sets to be viewed using CFM scripts. Some of the data are in raw text files and the remaining data are stored in a database. Some climate data is streaming directly from the field instruments into the database. There is an ARC-IMS server for geospatial files. Most of the metadata is managed with custom files. EML is generated with a one touch Perl script (SQL dump --> parsing --> generate EML and harvest list).
LTER sites with similar management systems
some similarities : HBR, GCE
potential synergies : MCM, PAL, CCE, MCR, SEV
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BNZ Data Quality Assurance & Control
Mission Statement:
The researchers and staff associated with the Bonanza Creek Long Term Ecological Research Program strive to provide the highest quality data sets possible. The intensive and extensive data collected from our field sites and laboratory experiments is provided to the greater scientific community in hopes of furthering the understanding of the mechanisms and interactions of the boreal ecosystem, its inhabitants, and impacts on regional and global dynamics.
Please note that there are difficulties with ensuring that all the data we provide is free of errors. Instrumentation malfunctions and human errors are made, but we have implemented numerous procedures and controls to minimize errors in the data sets.
The quality controls and assurances for the core climate data that is collected by the permanent BNZ research staff is completed by the technicians and researchers collecting the data. Documentation of quality assurance methods are included with each data set. Additional questions regarding methods or quality should be directed to the investigator responsible for a particular data set or the field technicians who collected the data. While not every data set has yet been fully analyzed for quality, we are continually working to achieve this goal and identify the level of quality for each data set that is available.
All other individual project data that were submitted by senior investigators, research associates, or graduate students have been checked and corrected for errors by the individuals submitting that data. Each of these data sets should have documentation available for the methods that were used to ensure the data quality. If documentation is missing or inadequate, interested parties should contact the data set provider for additional information or clarification.
Core Data Quality Levels:
In order to identify for end users the quality of the data they are seeking to obtain, we have implemented a Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) rating for all core data sets provided by the Bonanza Creek Long Term Ecological Program. The data classifications are as follows:
Level 0-The data set has not yet been analyzed for quality. Use with extreme caution.
Level 1-The data set has been analyzed to provide all available data records (i.e. minimal data gaps) and eliminating redundant data records. The quality of the values in the data set has not been accessed. Use with caution.
Level 2- The data set has been additionally analyzed to remove any and all data points that fall outside of accepted ranges. Erroneous values that do fall within these accepted ranges may still be present in the data set. Use with some caution.
Level 3- The data set has been additionally analyzed to remove outliers that were still within acceptable ranges but have been determined to be inaccurate or in error. Additionally, instrumentation calibrations have been verified and applied to the results to produce the highest quality data set. Use with confidence.
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Data Management Resources
BNZ IM - LTER Network Involvement
Working Groups
Controlled Vocabulary
Read a recent Databits Article on this working group
GIS
Read a recent Databits Article on this working group
Network Projects
Project DB
Bonanza Creek was able to participate in a pilot program with the LTER Network Office to collaborate with other interestd information managers to produce a research project information management tool for use at with multiple network sites.
Network Positions
Databits Editor
The network of information managers representing each LTER site collaborate and share relevant information through a comminity newsletter. The editor position rotates around the group to take the lead role in producing the bi-annual publication. Visit the 'Databits Page' where you can read the most recent issue or comb through backissues to unearth the secrets of informatics in our modern age. The current BNZ data manager, Jason Downing, has recently finished serving as the Databits Co-Editor for the Fall 2008, Spring 2009, and Fall 2009 issues.
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